Another story out Monkey Ridge

A
fter reading your story about Coppermine and Monkey Ridge in the January 17, 2013 Navajo Times, we, Phil and Arleen Miller, from Page, Ariz. would like to add to your beautiful story.

We met "Curly" (grader operator) and his wife "Tiny" (a CB radio operator) Broyles when we still lived at Tuba City, Ariz. and Curly and Tiny lived at Cameron, Ariz.

Tiny had the most elaborate CB radio communication system for those years and kept everyone up to speed on the happenings and development on Manson Mesa during the creation of Page, Ariz.

Page was the most isolated place in Northern Arizona during those years. And look at us now, a beautiful town full of world travelers enjoying all the diversified beauty that our location has to offer.

Curly and my brother Lindell Cornelison, worked together for the State Highway Department during the late 1950s. Later, Curly, Tiny, and the monkey moved to what is now called Monkey Ridge.

They of course became friends with all the Navajo people and the Navajo people re-named Tiny, The Monkey's Mama. That name stayed with Tiny the rest of her life.

The little monkey was loved by everyone that came into contact with him. The monkey's passing broke everyone's heart. Curly and Tiny later moved to Page, where they and their dog Chiquita spent the rest of their lives, but their love for Monkey Ridge lived on in their hearts.

Before Curly passed away on February 1, 1992, he asked Tiny to promise him that she would save his remains until she passed and together they would be laid to rest at Monkey Ridge.

Then one day Tiny came to us and asked us to make two promises to her. She said, "I want you to promise me that if I die before my little Chiquita you will take her to live with you and when I pass I want you to put my remains with Curly and take us both back to Monkey Ridge."

Tiny passed away on July 6, 2002 on her 86th birthday. We fulfilled their wish and may they both rest in peace.

Phil and Arleen Miller
Page, Ariz.

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Hopi budget process unusual, frustrating

Beginning Jan. 7, 2013, the Hopi Tribal Council have been hearing testimony from tribal programs, Hopi villages, executive and legislative entities on their proposed budgets for 2013.

I have been on the Hopi Tribal Council and have been on many budget sessions since 1994. I find this year's hearing process most unusual and frustrating. I have never participated in a process hearing like this. Let me explain.

The Council Chairman, Leroy Shingotewa Jr., has absolute control of this process. He calls before the Council every single program and asks all the questions. Once he concludes his questions and opinions, he asks the Council if there are any questions. When no one responds, he says OK and moves to the next program.

According to the chairman, the proposal is approved. If any Council representative should dare speak, he is cut off if the chairman does not like it.

For instance, on the 15th of January, I began to make a motion on a previous Resolution of the Hopi Living facility which resolution authorized $150,000 for 2010. My motion was to take out $150,000 and insert $600,000. When the chairman heard $600,000, he cut me off which I felt was downright rude because I still had the floor.

In the afternoon session, the chairman told the Council that the village proposals of $375,000 be reduced to $325,000. If the villages do not protest, this opinion of the chairman it will be approved. If a motion is made and a roll call vote is taken, I will vote no but the chairman may use his OK method. In that case I will object but the chairman may become deaf.

When the two governors of Kykotsmovi and Bacabi appeared before the Council, they forcefully reminded us that the first priority goes to the villages. They are the ones who directly serve the village residents. I absolutely agree. We should be giving the villages more than $375,000, than giving them $325,000 like the chairman said.

The next session of the Council will be on the 28th of January and I want to see all the village officials there to protect their proposal.